How do you pronounce "athlete"?

In American English: /ˈæθˌliːt/ (ATH-leet). In British English: /ˈæθlˌiːt/ (ATHL-eet). In Canadian English: /ˈæθˌliːt/ (ATH-leet). In Australian English: /ˈaθliːt/ (ATHL).

Is "athlete" pronounced differently in American and British English?

Yes. In American English it's pronounced /ˈæθˌliːt/ (ATH-leet), while in British English it's /ˈæθlˌiːt/ (ATHL-eet).

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athlete

Sports

/ˈæθˌliːt/

ATH-leet

Syllable Breakdown

æθath·liːtlete

Source

90%confidence📘 CMU Pronouncing Dictionary v0.7b

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Last updated: 2026-02-12